George Washington Papers
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To George Washington from Colonel Daniel Brodhead, 17 September 1780

From Colonel Daniel Brodhead

Fort Pitt [Pa.] Septr 17th 1780.

Dear General

I have this moment received intelligence that the Enemy from Detroit intend paying a visit to this frontier. Major Lanctot has wrote me in french, and I take the liberty to inclose a copy of the translation.1 The Delaware Runners add that a party of twenty Indian Warriors have been discovered, about six days ago, marching towards those Settlements. and that a large party of Seneca’s may soon be expected down the Alleghany River.2

Last week Seven persons were killed & taken by the Savages, in an interior Settlement on ten mile Creek.3

As no Supply of Goods has yet been sent for the Delaware Indians agreeable to treaty, I conceive they will be compelled to make terms with the British, or perish, and next Spring we shall have a general Indian War.4

If I had a sufficient number of Men and a supply of Provisions I should be happy to meet the Enemy before they reach the Posts or Settlements But I see no method but force to obtain it. And the Mills cannot Grind for want of Water.

Should this intelligence prove true; and I have no reason to doubt it, I will do all I can to oppose the Designs of the Enemy. But my regular Force is very small, and the Inhabitants will be in the greatest dread imaginable. Indeed I expect they will think more of flight, than resistance. I have the Honor to be with the most perfect respect & esteem your Excellencies most Obedt Servt

Daniel Brodhead

P.S. The Delaware Messengers Say that Captn McIntyres party killed 18 or 19. of the Wyondats, that were crossing the ohio, as mentioned in a former Letter.5

D.B.

ALS, DLC:GW; LB, NNGL. GW acknowledged this letter in his reply to Brodhead, 13 Oct., postscript (see also Brodhead to Richard Peters, 17 Sept., in Pa. Archives description begins Samuel Hazard et al., eds. Pennsylvania Archives. 9 ser., 138 vols. Philadelphia and Harrisburg, 1852–1949. description ends , 1st ser., 12:271).

1The enclosed translation of Major Linctot’s letter to Brodhead dated 13 Sept. warned that a British “party of a Thousand men is a coming to Attack Fort Mcintosh, I imagine they will come with the Savages” (DLC:GW; see also another contemporary translation of the same letter in Kellogg, Frontier Retreat description begins Louise Phelps Kellogg, ed. Frontier Retreat on the Upper Ohio, 1779–1781. Madison, Wis., 1917. description ends , 274–75, and Brodhead to Linctot, 23 Aug., in Pa. Archives description begins Samuel Hazard et al., eds. Pennsylvania Archives. 9 ser., 138 vols. Philadelphia and Harrisburg, 1852–1949. description ends , 1st ser., 12:259).

Daniel-Maurice Godefroy de Linctot (Lanctot; c.1739–1783) opposed British forces near Fort Pitt in 1755 as a French cadet and rose to ensign in 1759. He later settled in the Illinois country as a fur trader. During the Revolutionary War, Linctot became a militia captain for Virginia, which named him major and Indian agent in February 1780.

2For this intelligence, delivered the previous evening by Delaware Indian “Runners,” see Brodhead to David Shepherd, 17 Sept., in Kellogg, Frontier Retreat description begins Louise Phelps Kellogg, ed. Frontier Retreat on the Upper Ohio, 1779–1781. Madison, Wis., 1917. description ends , 275–76.

3Tenmile Creek flows into the Monongahela River about thirty-five miles south of Fort Pitt. For the Wyandot raid, see Reader, Washington County, Pa. description begins F. S. Reader. Some Pioneers of Washington County, Pa.: A Family History. New Brighton, Pa., 1902. description ends , 40.

4For this treaty, see Andrew Lewis to GW, 15 Feb. 1779, n.3.

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